Cover-plate for sewing-machines.



R. G. WOODWARD.

COVER PLATE FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1907.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR W1 TNESSES Allorney$ R. G. WOODWARD.

COVER PLATE FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1, 1907.

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Z W Y 5 r 1 7 o A W 4 a 9, m 4 m w m M Aflomeys RUSSEL G. WOODWARD, OF WAUKEGAN,

PATENT OFFICE.

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNION SPECIAL MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

COVER-PLATE FOR SEWIN G-MACHIN ES.

Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (over-Plates for Sewing-lVIachines, of which the following is a.

description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

In anapplication filed by me on the 7th day of September, 1905, which application has since been issued as Patent No. 872,601, dated December 3d, 1907, I have shown, described and claimed a cover plate for sewing machines upon which the present invention is an improvement. Said cover plate includes generally a cover plate having means to lock it in its closed position and a single implement independent of the locking means for operating the locking means and moving the cover plate upon its support. Said cover plate has a strip-diverting guide, slidable thereon, normally spring pressed outwardly and adapted when moved to the right by the handle to have an angle piece carried by it, release the locking means. In the use of this device, it has been found that in factories, operators would forget in closing the cover plate, to slide the diverting guide to the right, and in this way it would become bent and cause trouble, either by wrongly diverting the trimmed off strip or by getting in the way of the movable knife. I have, therefore, devised an arrangement, whereby when the cover plate is out of operative position, the diverting guide or sliding-plate carrying the same, will be automatically engaged by a trigger and held in retracted position until the cover plate is moved into operative position again.

The invention, therefore, consists primarily of a cover plate having a sliding portion, with means for holding said sliding portion in retracted position when the cover plate is open, and for automatically releasing the sliding portion when the cover plate is closed.

It also consists in the various matters hereinafter described and referred to in the appended claims.

The invention is illustrated .in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 represents a side view of a sew- Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed June 1, 1907. Serial No. 376,780.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

ing machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view taken from the inner side of the cover plate; Fig. 3 is a sectional view; Fig. l is an edge view; and Fig. 5 is a detail view of the locking device for the cover plate, and the automatic trigger for holding the diverting guide retracted.

In these drawings. the hinged cover plate is shown at 39, and it is attached to the bed casting of the machine along its bottom edge by screws 39, and held in place at the top by the spring pin 40, inserted in the top of the central bearing lug for the main shaft and registering with the hole 41 in the cover 38. This cover 38 carries on its outer face a guide 42. for diverting the strip severed from the body fabric toward the front of the machine. and'away from its operating parts. This diverting guide is normally spring pressed forward, by means of the spring 43 pressing against the bracket 44 secured to the inner side of the cover 38 by means of screws 45 passing through slots 46 in said cover.

On the plate which carries the strip-diverting guide is secured an angle plate 50, having a finger piece 51, the upper arm 52 of said plate having a beveled lower face at one end, so that as the plate 50 is slid to one side, the beveled face of the angle plate will bear against the spring pin 40, and force the same down to release the cover, which can then be swung down by means of said finger piece.

Thus far the construction of the cover plate is the same as set forth in my above entitled application. To avoid the practical difiiculties referred to as existent in the use of this device in case of oversight or carelessness on the part of operators ,I- have provided means whereby when the diverting guide or sliding plate is moved to the right, and the locking means for the cover plate released, and the cover plate begins to be swung outwardly, said sliding port-ion will be engaged and held in retracted position during all the period the cover plate is opened, and automatically release the same when the plate is closed again. The device for accomplishing this object as herein shown, embodies a hinged gravity trigger or catch 53, pivoted to the cover plate as at 54,

the angle piece 52. This trigger or catch and having a notched portion 55 to engage the cover plate, the

' tive to the other,

' section on the other section,

,0 en. In closing the latter,

length that w en the cover plate is closed the pin strikes against the central lug of the machine, and is ralsed, thus raising the notched portion from engagement with the angle piece 52, thus allowing the sprlng 43 to move the diverting guide to the left.

In operation, when it is sliding of the finger piece forces down the locking pin 40, and unlocks the cover plate. As soon as the lat ter is turned on its hinges,the gravity trigger' engages the angle piece 50, and holds the sliding plate or diverting guide retracted during all the time the cover plate is assoon-as the pin 56 strikes the top of the central lug, the gravity trigger or catch 53 is swung upward on its pivot,freleasing the sliding plate or diverting guide, which under the actiomot the spring returns to normal position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. A cover plate for sewing machines adapted to be opened and closed, comprising sections, one of which is movable relameans for holding said movable section in retracted position when the cover plate is open, and means for releasin plate is closed. 2. A cover plate for sewing machines adapted to be opened and closed, comprising sections, one of which is movable relative to the other, a spring for sliding said movable means for holding the same in retracted position when the coverplate is open, and means for automatically releasing the movable section when the cover plate is closed.

3. In a sewing machine, plate attached to and supported by a stationary part of the machine frame, and adapted to be opened and closed, means for locking the cover plate in its closed position, means for moving a portion of said cover plate laterally, and simultaneously operating the locking device, means for holding said portion in retracted position when the cover plate is moved, and means for releaseing of such desired to open the movable section as the cover a sectional cover noeaeaa locked.

4:. A cover plate. for sewing machines adapted to be opened and closed, comprising sections,

one of which is movable rela tive to the other, a catch engaging and holding said movable section when in retracted position, a member carried by the catch and adapted when the cover plate is closed to move into engagement with a part of the machine. frame and release the catch.

5. A cover plate for sewing machines adapted to be opened and closed-andhavin a movable sectlon, a pivoted gravity catch engaging and holding said movable section when in retracted position, and a pin carried by the catch projecting through the cover plate, adapted when the cover plate is closed to move into engagement with a part of the machine and release said catch.

6. A cover plate adapted to be opened and closed, comprising sections, one of which is movable relative to the other, means for holding said movable section in retracted position when the cover plate is open, means for releasing said movable section, whereby the same may be returned to normal operative position when the cover plate is closed including a single lever.

7. A cover plate adapted to be opened and closed, comprising sections, one of which is movable relative to the other, means carried by said cover plate to move said movable section laterally and slmultaneously unlock means for locking said the cover plate, and

laterally adjusted pomovable section in its s1t1on.

8. A cover plate adapted to be opened and closed comprising sectlons, one of which is movable relative to the other, means carried by said cover plate for locking the movable section in inoperative position, means for automatically releasing the same when the cover is closed, and means for locking the cover in closed position ing said portion when the cover, is:

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature,

in presence of two witnesses.

RUSSEL G. WOODWARD. Witnesses:

CHESTER Mo'NEIL, WARD E. WRIGHT. 

